On December 8th, the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica will open its doors to mark the start of the 2016 Jubilee year; a momentous religious event that millions of people worldwide have been preparing for. This is the year of Mercy, lasting until November 2016. Floods of tourists, the faithful, curious onlookers, and visitors interested in meeting the Pope are expected to travel the Pilgrim’s Way, and relish in the beauty of one of the great wonders of the world: San Pietro. The Pilgrim’s Way First of all, take into account that visiting the monuments that are part of this itinerary will in itself take some time, at least 2 hours. However, the itinerary is well worth it, as it enables one to get acquainted with some of the most beautiful and mysterious sites in the Eternal City. Let’s go through the highlights. Shall we start? 1. The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran: the Pilgrim’s way starts here, in the oldest basilica in the world, known as the Mother and Head of all churches; important and large. Anything we could say about its interior would not do it justice: once inside you’ll discover why it is known as the “mother”. Simply magnificent. 2. The Colosseum: undoubtedly, the most recurrent image when we think of Rome. Considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, this building full of history is amazing by day and spectacular at night, with all the lighting surrounding it. 3. Fori Imperiali: we walk down the street of the Fori Imperiali to admire the beautiful ruins. 4. Altare della Patria: a wonderful...

An autumn Sunday walk through the Castelli Romani, or the Roman Castles, is the perfect plan whether you’ve already been there, or whether you still haven’t visited. Every time I think of this area on the outskirts of Rome, with its unique charm, I immediately think back to the Sundays spent with my family: “Today we are going to the Castelli Romani”, and you just knew it was going to be a special day. Fairy tale towns surrounded by nature and idyllic lakes. It was no coincidence popes had their summer residence in the Castelli Romani. And if the pope himself chose this area as the place to rest in, there must surely be something to it. Today I want to share some curiosities, traditions, and wonders of this dream-like Italian backdrop. Let’s embark on this tour together! Frascati Frascati is a town located south-east of Rome, and famous for its Tusculan villas belonging to the papal nobility, and built by 16th century aristocrats. At first, they were just homes surrounded by forests, but later on they became regal buildings: the Castles. They are prime examples of Roman villas of the Imperial age, where one would head to for meditation and contemplation. Nowadays, they are open to the public and one can spend the day in their gardens, or enjoy a delicious dinner in any of the restaurants built inside. This is the perfect destination for a unique and romantic dinner with your significant other, overviewing the lights of the eternal city. In addition, most Tusculan villas harbor remarkable frescoes inside, adding to their artistic and cultural value. My...

The History of U2 I would go as far as to call them the Irish prophets of rock’n’roll… true veteran rockstars, active since the early 80s, that experiment with the most diverse musical genres. Do you know how this band was born? It all started back in 1976, when drummer Larry Mullen put up a notice on the wall of Dublin’s Mount Temple School saying: “Looking for musicians to form a band”. Bassist Adam, guitarist Dave, and the uber-famous Bono, whose nickname was taken from the name of a hearing aid shop in downtown Dublin, all replied to the ad. They started playing together as a teenage band, and ended up becoming no more and no less than U2. But why the name? It is the name given to a type of WWII American spy jet, as well as an obvious pun on words. U2 in Barcelona After an absence of 5 years, U2 are coming back to Spain with four shows in Barcelona this time around. The first will take place on October 5th, followed by successive gigs on the 6th, 9th, and 10th at the Palau Sant Jordi. That should give the fans of this legendary band plenty of options to choose from. The fourth concert was arranged at a later date as an encore of sorts, as tickets to the other three had sold out at vertiginous speed. In fact, the President of Global Touring-Global Music, Arthur Fogel, said the ticket sale process was really exciting, adding that they worked very hard to meet the incredible demand from fans. These concerts are part of the tour to...

Should we take off? Sure, but let’s first download our travel apps! These days, we are used to getting a number of travel apps on our Smartphones before traveling, for access to firsthand information about the city we are going to. It’s an easy way to travel; we feel more confident to move around, we know where to go, what sites to visit and where to eat when we find ourselves in a new place. And though part of the adventure of traveling is getting lost, it always comes in handy to have small guides to help us at given times. Below, we’ll explore some of the many free applications to download when traveling. PACK POINT First things first: packing up. If you are among those who can’t find the middle-ground between packing your entire wardrobe and forgetting the very basics down to your underwear, this app will save you having to compile packing lists in your head, as well as excess baggage charges. Pack Point arranges packing lists for travelers based on their needs. This app helps you organize the contents of your luggage, taking into account certain parameters such as the duration of your trip, your plans or your destination. Without a doubt, one of the best ways to leave home with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are not forgetting anything. WIKITUDE Wikitude is a great guide: with just pointing your Smartphone towards any monument within sight, you get instant access to the information in its Wikipedia page. The closest thing to carrying a real travel guide. Moreover, this is the first...

When I think of a jewel, the words dazzling, elitist, magnificent, luminous, and eye-catching come to mind. And that’s why when I think of Capri, I think of the word jewel. The jewel of Campania. With its delightful sites, breathtaking views, natural landscapes, and its well-know Faraglioni. The list of its charms is nearly endless… Today I’d like to take you on a tour of this stunning island. Ready? MARINA GRANDE & MARINA PICCOLA Marina Grande is our first stop in Capri, mostly because this is the docking point for ships, as it is the island’s only port. Upon arrival, don’t miss the public beach of Marina Grande, the island’s largest; it is a true pearl, and the perfect spot from which to see the Faraglioni. As legend has it, it was here that Ulysses was tempted by the Sirens’ song. I FARAGLIONI Our Capri tour begins with the Faraglioni: three seastacks that rise up from the sea… although they are a lot more than that. An excursion to see them up close will leave you in awe of their impressive size and the way the blue sea enhances their beauty. Did you know that each of them has its own name? The first one is called Stella, the second Faraglione di Mezzo, and the third one Faraglione di Fuori. And did you know the latter is inhabited by a reptilian species known as the blue-tinted lizard? It is said that this animal gets its color from the blue of the surrounding waters and the sky, as camouflage. If you’d like a little beach time after your...